Lock



Sept. 18, 1934. F. B. GERARD 1,974,066

LOCK I Filed Oct. 25, 1933 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES LOCK Frank B. Gerard, New Haven, Conn, assignor to Sargent & Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 25,

6 Claims.

' This invention relates to looks and more particularly to means providing for a free and easy movement of the bolt relatively to the lock case.

In the operation of locks, and particularly of door looks, it often occurs that the bolt sticks or binds against the lock case within which the bolt is mounted so as to prevent a free movement of the bolt to protracted and retracted positions relatively to the case. This is particularly true in the case of latch bolts, which are usually provided with a cam surface and are automatically moved to retracted position within the case by engagement with the usual strike plate when the door is closed. The engagement of the cam face '15 of the'bolt with the strike plate causes the back of the bolt head to contact with the edge of the opening in the lock case and sometimes results in a binding of the bolt against the lock case so that its retraction into the case is attended by considerable effort.

One object of the invention is to provide for an easy and free operation of a lock bolt.

A further object of the invention is the pro- 7 vision in the head of the lock bolt of lubricating means whereby the surface of the bolt will be lubricated and its movement facilitated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of lubricating means within the bolt head. and the provision of means whereby the lubricant may be conducted to the surface of the bolt particularly at the back thereof and spread over this surface so as to provide for free retrac- -tion of the bolt. To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lock embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a face View of the same; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lock partly in section to show the upper surface of the bolt;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In order to illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown at 10 a lock case provided with a bolt having a head 11 which in this instance is in the form of a latch bolt having a cam surface 12 which, as will be understood, will be directed toward the strike plate (not shown) of the door. It will be understood that the bolt 11 is mounted so that it may be retracted 1933, Serial No. 695,117

and protracted relatively to the lock case in the usual manner. In this instance the bolt is reciprocatingly mounted in the lock case upon the stem 13 so that it slides to itsprotracted and retracted positions. The lock mechanism may also be provided with the usual dogging lever 14, although this is not a part of the present invention.

The bolt head 11 is provided with a recess or chamber 15 opening through its upper surface. Within the mouth of this chamber is placed a lubricant cup 16. It will be noted that the lubricant cup does not extend to the bottom of the chamber, and within that portion of the chamber below the cup may be placed absorbent material 17 to hold a supply of oil or other lubricating material.

The oil cup 16 is open atits upper end and within the open end is mounted a valve 18 urged in an upward direction by a spring 20 which bears at its lower end against the lower inwardly crimped edge 21 of the cup, and at its upper end against the under surface of the valve. 7 p The upper portion of the cup is flanged outwardly as at 22 and then crimped inwardly, and the upper portion of the valve (which is of inverted cup shape) is dome shaped so that it projects slightly above the upper flange portion of the cup but is held in place by this flange.

Leading from the lower portion of the lubricant chamber 15 is a duct 24 which extends to the surface of the bolt. As shown in the drawing, this duct leads to the rear surface or back of the bolt 25, although it will be understood that it may lead to other surfaces of the bolt, if desired. Upon the surface 25 of the bolt is provided a shallow groove or channel 26 which intersects the open end of the duct 24 and provides for the distribution of the oil issuing from the duct over practically the entire height of the bolt. It will be apparent that upon movement of the bolt head 11 and the contact of the rear surface 25 against the edge of the opening in the lock case through which the bolt moves, any lubricant in the channel 26 will be spread over this entire surface of the bolt.

As shown particularly in Fig. 4:, the bolt projects through an opening 25 in the case. As also clearly shown in this figure, the upper dome portion of the valve 18 projects slightly above the upper surface of the bolt as the upper end of the oil cup 16 is substantially flush with the surface of the bolt. When the oil cup is mounted in this manner with the upper flange substantially flush with the upper surface of the bolt, it prevents any recess or depression in that surface of the bolt head in which dirt or dust might lodge. The spring-pressed valve will be cammed downwardly within the cup 16 when the bolt moves to retracted position, and in order that this may be easily effected, the face of the lock case is provided with a cam-shaped recess 26 above the opening 25 and in position to engage the dome-shaped portion of the cup 18.

In the operation of my device, the lubricant cup 16, may be filled with a fluid lubricant through its upper end, the valve 18 being pushed downwardly for this purpose. The lubricant is taken up by the absorbent material 17 and prevented from flowing too freely through the duct 24. It, however, gradually oozes out of this duct into the channel 26 and is, by the reciprocating movements of the bolt, spread over this surface of the bolt. This effectively prevents binding action between this surface of the bolt and the lock case so as to provide for a free and easy operation of the bolt at all times.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variaticn within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A look bolt having a chamber provided therein and opening through the upper surface theref. a valved oil cup mounted in said chamber, there being a space between the lower end of the cup and the bottom of the chamber, said space containing an absorbent material, and a duct leading from the lower portion of the chamber to a surface of the bolt..

2. A look case, a bolt movably mounted therein and having a chamber provided therein and opening through the upper surface thereof, a valved oil cup mounted in said chamber, there being a space between the lower end of the cup and the bottom of the chamber, said space containing an absorbent material, a duct leading from the lower portion of the chamber to a surface of the bolt, the upper surface of said oil cup being substantially flush with the upper surface of the bolt and the valve of said oil cup projecting slightly above the upper surface of the bolt, and means for camming the valve downwardly when the bolt is retracted.

3. A look case, a bolt movably mounted therein and having a chamber provided therein and opening through the upper surface thereof, a valved oil cup mounted'in said chamber, there being a space between the lower end of the cup and the bottom of the chamber, said space containing an absorbent material, a duct leading from the lower portion of the chamber to a surface of the bolt, the upper surface of said oil cup being substantially flush with the upper surface of the bolt, and the valve of said oil cup projecting slightly above the upper surface of the bolt, said lock case being provided with a cam-shaped recess to. engage said valve and cam it downwardly when the bolt is retracted.

4'. A look case provided with a protractable and retractable bolt, said bolt having a lubricant chamber opening through a surface thereof, a cup-shaped member mounted in the upperend of the chamber, a movable closure member mounted in the mouth of the cup-shaped member to control said opening, and a duct leading from said chamber to another surface of the bolt to conduct the lubricant to said surface.

5. A lock case provided with a protractable and retractable bolt, said bolt having a lubricant chamber opening through a surface thereof, a cup-shaped member mounted in the upper end of the chamber and a movable closuremember mounted in the cup-shaped member to. control the admission of lubricant to said chamber.

6. A look case provided with a protractable and retractable bolt, said bolt having a lubricant chamber opening through a surface thereof, and a spring-pressed closure member carried by. the bolt and urged by its spring to a position to close said opening.

B. GERARD.

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